Park’s Halloween event to feature themed areas, actors, vendors, selfie zones, Frank & Stein’s Octoberfest Pavilion, , and spooky fun for everyone!
Gatorland, the “Alligator Capital of the World,” is getting ready for Halloween with an all-new special event called Gators, Ghost and Goblins that will include spooky fun for everyone on select dates in October.
Gatorland Orlando
Included with regular price admission on October 19, 20, 26, 27, and 31, this special event will feature several spooky themed areas throughout the park!
Complete with ghoulish actors and selfie zones, fun shows, a variety of specialty vendors, and “Frank & Stein’s” Octoberfest Pavilion with even more entertainment and themed food and beer for purchase.
The infamous Skunk Ape that Gatorland guests have spotted throughout the years will also be making appearances throughout the day along with the mysterious Swamp Ghost, and his Stompin’ Gator crew.
Gatorland Orlando
“Besides the great family entertainment we offer in the park every single day, we love doing fun new things for our guests via special events,” said Mark McHugh, President & CEO of Gatorland. “It’s just another way we are bringing everyone the best of Gatorland during our 70th Anniversary year.”
Gatorland is a 100-acre theme park combining Old Florida charm with exciting experiences, exhibits, and entertainment. Originally Gatorland opened as a roadside attraction in 1949, and today the park is celebrating its 70th Anniversary of providing affordably-priced family fun!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party happens at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park on select nights until November 1st, and during this after-hours event families are encouraged to put on their favorite costumes to spend the evening collecting candies, experiencing park thrills, and watching eerie entertainment with Disney Characters that go bump in the night.
This year more new additions than ever are joining the line-up of amazing event exclusive offerings!
Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular
David Roark, photographer
The new Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular lights the night sky during the witching season in a spellbinding display playing across the heavens.
As host of the spectacle, Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” spins a not-so-scary tale about how anything can happen on Halloween night.
Jack’s ghost dog, Zero, brings everyone along on a trick-or-treating adventure where four friends – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck – find themselves drawn into a haunted house. Encounters with dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and wickedly troublemaking Disney villains make for a hair-raising adventure. It all comes to life with state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, lighting and dazzling fireworks.
Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
Caitlyn McCabe, photographer
The galloping Headless Horseman fronts Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, setting the stage for spooktacular fun throughout Magic Kingdom.
The parade opens with a flurry of beloved Disney friends, including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in new Halloween costumes.
The spectral Bride from The Haunted Mansion appears in the parade this year alongside waltzing spirits and those famous Hitchhiking Ghosts.
Pixar pals join the fun, too, including The Incredibles and designer extraordinaire Edna Mode, as well as Buzz Lightyear and alien explorers on a planetary playset float inspired by Pixar’s Toy Story films.
Wreck-It-Ralph, Vanellope von Schweetz and the girls from Sugar Rush make sure there’s plenty of candy to go around during the parade.
In addition, pirates sail in from Adventureland, Clarabelle Cow hosts a square dance during a Frontierland hoedown and a wicked assortment of Disney villains reigns over a Fantasyland-inspired grand finale.
Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
As only she can, host Cruella de Vil invites guests to mix and mingle with her impossibly hip circle of friends during Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.
This new reservations-only social promises a fun, festive atmosphere with themed music and décor matched with divine hors d’oeuvres, sweets and drinks (including beer and wine).
Guests can come and go as they please throughout the night and enjoy prime parade-viewing spot reserved just for them. The party keeps rollin’ until 12:30 a.m.
Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way ($99 per person, plus tax) is available only during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Reservations are required and can be made at Disneyworld.com or by calling Disney Dining at (407) 939-3463.
New Candy Spot
New this year, when guests follow a treat trail into the Monster World at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, they’ll interact with a comic entourage of monsters who are learning about the curious human-world holiday called Halloween.
Special Attraction Overlays
Among many popular park attractions available to roaming ghosts and goblins, Space Mountain turns out the lights, going completely dark and hurtling guests through the blackness of deep space to the sounds of a new hard-rockin’ soundtrack.
Then guests embarking on Pirates of the Caribbean will encounter a crew of live pirates engaged in a whole new swashbuckling quest for treasure.
And finally at the Mad Tea Party, special lighting and music enhance the nighttime experience to bring out the maddest hatter in everyone.
New Dance Parties
The new DescenDANCE Party takes the stage at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland, where guests can groove to a beat inspired by the “Descendants” Disney Channel movies.
For young park goers, the Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam in Fantasyland is the place to party with favorite Disney Junior characters like Doc McStuffins, Timon and Vampirina. New this year, Nancy Clancy from the hit Disney Junior series “Fancy Nancy” joins the fun.
Ali Nasser, photographer
The remaining dates in 2019 for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are:
Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party start at $79 (plus tax) when purchased in advance and can be booked through Disneyworld.com or the Disney Reservations Center at (407) 827-7350.
Children are encouraged to dress in costume and enjoy the spirit of Halloween with their families, and you can find a full list of costume guidelines here.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando returns to Universal Studios Florida to take fear to the max on select nights September 6-November 2, 2019.
During this year’s all-new Halloween Horror Nights, the 80’s return with a vengeance bringing with them some of the biggest frights of the era with 10 totally terrifying haunted houses, five pulse-pounding scare zones, and outrageous live entertainment.
So let’s star this year’s HHN season with a look at everything you will encounter during the event!
Halloween Horror Nights Haunted Houses
Enter ten terrifying haunted houses, inspired by the biggest names in fear. You’re never quite sure if your spine is tingling with dread or sheer excitement.
All-New STRANGER THINGS
Prepare to go even further into the chilling world of the Upside Down as STRANGER THINGS returns to Halloween Horror Nights in an all-new haunted house. Experience the most terrifying moments of STRANGER THINGS 2 & 3 as you face snarling Demodogs and scream through iconic scenes from Hopper’s cabin to the Starcourt Mall.
Us
Jordan Peele’s new original nightmare comes to life as the Wilson family faces the ultimate opponent: themselves. Enter the funhouse on the Santa Cruz Pier where you’ll experience the horror of little Adelaide Wilson when she comes face to face with her menacing mirror image. Freeze in terror and disbelief as the Wilson family—and you—are hunted at every turn by terrifying doubles of themselves known as the Tethered. If you’re seeing double, you’re in trouble.
Universal Monsters
Frankenstein. Dracula. The Wolfman. The world’s most terrifying monsters have come together to tear you apart. Flee through a dark Bavarian forest as the savage Wolfman grows ever closer. Try to escape from the manmade monster within Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory. Face the fanged terrors in Dracula’s castle. And encounter other untold horrors. It’s the more, the scarier.
Ghostbusters
A rift between worlds has opened, releasing apparitions of every shape and size. Step right into the original film where Slimer and other ghoulish spirits, specters and ectoplasm-dripping phantasms materialize where you least expect. Your screams are going to be big. Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man big.
If ever there was a reason why people are afraid of clowns, this is it. The Killer Klowns from Outer Space have landed in an all-new haunted house. Don’t let them encase you in one of their cotton candy cocoons or you could end up as a gooey snack. These Killer Klowns won’t make you scream with laughter–just scream.
House of 1000 Corpses
From “Captain Spaulding’s Museum of Monsters & Madmen” to the home of the psychotic Firefly family, Rob Zombie’s epic horror masterpiece comes to life. Scream all you want, you won’t find any mercy at the decrepit Firefly house. After all, what’s one more corpse when there are a thousand others inside.
Depths of Fear
A deep-sea mining company has built an installation deep in the ocean, but the waters are infested with parasitic Mouthbrooders. They soon slither inside the mine and spew acidic eggs upon unwilling human hosts. You’re paralyzed with horror as the infected are driven to violent madness. The pressure is building. Implosion is imminent. The creatures are everywhere. There is no escape from your watery grave.
Graveyard Games
Enter the gates of a cemetery in the dead of night, where disrespectful teens have awakened vengeful spirits. Ghosts rise to torment those who disturbed them. Skeletal beings send fear into your bones. The rictus smiles of ghastly apparitions match the screams frozen on your face. Don’t be caught dead here after dark.
Nightingales: Blood Pit
Ancient Rome has suffered its worst drought in centuries. A ruthless emperor has declared the gladiatorial games will continue nonstop until the rains return. The nightingales, a grisly race of creatures, are drawn to the dead and dying. You enter the fray just as the rain begins to fall, recoiling with fear and disgust as the ravenous nightingales feed. Try to survive alongside gladiators, but with nothing to protect you, you’re history.
Yeti: Terror of the Yukon
In a remote part of Canada that’s all but uninhabitable, loggers and trappers seek refuge from the cold. But there is no escape from beasts as brutal as the winter. Enter a logging camp that’s been torn apart. Cringe at the trail of blood leading to caves no humans have lived to see. You’re in Yeti territory, and they’ll stop you cold.
Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
Surrounded in shadow by screams and mad laughter, face nightmarish creatures on streets twisted into sinister scare zones.
Zombieland Double Tap
“Check the Back Seat.” “Beware of Bathrooms.” “Always Double Tap.” Obey every rule if you don’t want to end up a zombie snack. Welcome to the United States of Zombieland. You may know the first movie, but you gotta make it through the sequel, too. Can you survive while everyone around you becomes meat?
Rob Zombie Hellbilly Deluxe
Step into the heavy metal horror of Rob Zombie as many of his most popular songs have come to life. Zombie’s haunting lyrics and pulse-pounding music crank up the intensity as you and your pursuers are driven to an adrenaline-fueled frenzy of ragining madness.
Anarch-cade
A sinister 80s-inspired arcade has taken over the Avenue of the Stars and you only get one life. Blacklights. A gang of neon slashers. Laser lights. It could be a party, except for the chainsaws. Once you scream, it’s game over.
Vanity Ball
Your flesh is the canvas in Hollywood. Rabid fans cheer as their favorite blade-wielding artists slice up willing participants into horrific living works of art. And they can’t wait to take a scalpel to you.
Vikings Undead
Brutal, horn-helmeted warriors have risen from the grave and laid siege to Central Park. Barred from Valhalla, the Viking paradise, these skeletal fighters have channeled their vindictive rage into an endless onslaught of gore. Bloodlust never dies.
Halloween Horror Nights Live Entertainment
Lose yourself in outrageous live entertainment filled with diabolically entertaining surprises.
Halloween Marathon of Mayhem
A monstrous new show is rising from the depths of Universal Studios’ lagoon with a spectacle of screaming neon and synth. Pounding electro music, giant water screens and piercing lasers combine for a twisted new take on Stranger Things, Ghostbusters, Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Universal Monsters. This all-new show is a largerthan-life mix tape of retro mayhem.
Academy of Villains: Altered States
This wicked talented group of artists is back for an all-new, bigger and better performance featuring a killer mix of dance and theatrics.
Rides & Attractions
Escape to some of Universal Studios’ most exhilarating attractions where heart pounding takes on a different meaning.
Here is a list of attraction open on event nights:
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts*
Revenge of the Mummy
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
Fast & Furious: Supercharged*
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D*
The Simpsons Ride**
*Closes prior to event end. **Open select event nights only.
From cinematic screams to the most horrifying cult classics, there’s no escape from the decade that just won’t die.
We are excited to bring you all sorts of Halloween Horror Nights coverage and frights, so for the latest make sure you are following @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
In keeping safety top of mind, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be closed beginning September 3 at 3 p.m. and will reopen following the storm when it is safe to do so.
Guests with current and upcoming reservations at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort have been contacted to relocate them to other resorts on property and to help them plan for anticipated weather impacts.
SPECIAL EVENT CANCELLATIONS AND UPDATES
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been canceled on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.
Guests with pre-purchased event tickets for this date are able to exchange their tickets for one of the following options:
Tickets to attend another Disney After Hours event in 2019.
Tickets to a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party event in 2019.
A 1-Day Flexible Date Ticket with Park Hopper Option, which can be used any day prior to December 31, 2020.
Receive a full refund for event tickets.
To redeem these other options, guests should call (407) 939-7818 by December 15, 2019 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM, or email us at Ticket.Inquiries@DisneyWorld.com. Please have your tickets available so we may process your request for you as quickly as possible.
DINING AND OTHER EXPERIENCE RESERVATIONS
On September 3rd, theme park dining reservations will be honored up to one hour prior to park closing.
Resort dining reservations will be honored until 5:30 p.m.
Effective immediately, WDW will not be enforcing cancellation policies for dining and other experiences, so there’s no need to cancel existing reservations through Tuesday, September 3rd.
Pre-paid dining and other experiences outside of the modified operating hours for September 3 will be automatically canceled and refunded.
For more information, please review frequently asked questions regarding the Walt Disney World hurricane policy.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios Florida: 9AM – 9PM
Universal’s Islands of Adventure: 9AM – 9PM
Universal’s Volcano Bay: CLOSED
Official Park Statement:
We continue to closely monitoring the weather. At this time, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s CityWalk will open as scheduled on Tuesday, September 3, however, Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park will be closed.
We have a comprehensive weather preparedness plan in place for the safety of our ambassadors, guests and animals as we continue to closely monitor the forecast for Hurricane Dorian.
Guests are encouraged to follow our social media channels and to check our website for the latest park updates.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. The safety of our employees and guests is our number one priority. Out of an abundance of caution LEGOLAND Florida theme park and water park will be closed on Tuesday, September 3. We expect to re-open on Wednesday, September 4 pending the track of Hurricane Dorian. LEGOLAND Hotel will remain open.
Halloween fills the theme parks of Central Florida with special events, and to help you choose the right event for your family I’ve put together the Best Halloween Events you can find.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a special after-hours event that transforms the Magic Kingdom into a family-friendly Halloween party with exclusive entertainment, parades, characters, fireworks, treats (but not tricks), shopping, and more in addition to most of the park’s attractions.
This year a new nighttime extravaganza called “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular”, lights up Cinderella Castle and the nighttime sky with state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, light, and fireworks!
David Roark, photographer
Hosted by Jack Skellington, this not so scary-tale stars Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy traveling to mysterious haunted house where they encounter dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts, and a sinister gathering of Disney villains!
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is not included with theme park admission, and prices vary by date. Make sure to purchase your tickets online at least a day in advance to save $10!
Insider Tip: While Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party doesn’t ‘officially’ begin until 7pm, guests with tickets can begin to enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando’sHalloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights, the world’s premier Halloween event, fills the Universal Studios Florida theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort with screams, terror, and thrills with a frightful 1980’s flair.
Guests will face 10 elaborately themed haunted houses, navigate five sinister scare zones throughout the park filled with menacing scareactors, and enjoy Universal Studios’ most exhilarating rides and attractions.
This year a new nighttime show, “Halloween Marathon of Mayhem” will use more than 100 fountains, special effects, music, lasers and more to bring terrifying moments from Halloween classics to life on the Universal Studios Florida lagoon.
Halloween Horror Nights is not included with theme park admission, and prices vary by date. Make sure to purchase your tickets online at least a day in advance to save up to $53!
Insider Tip: With more houses (and longer lines) than ever, consider attending Halloween Horror Nights during the week for reduced crowds or purchasing a multi-night ticket to enjoy several visits to help spread out the haunted house and scare zone experiences.
SeaWorld Orlando’sHalloween Spooktacular
It’s an ocean of Halloween fun for the whole family at SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular.
Families are immersed in an underwater “fantasea” that includes trick-or-treating, whimsical sea creatures, special entertainment, and more!
The daytime Halloween fun begins at 11 am, and takes place every Saturday and Sunday through October 27th.
The best part is that SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular celebration is included with theme park admission.
Insider Tip: This year SeaWorld will not be providing Trick-or-Treating bags, so be sure to bring one from home!
LEGOLAND Florida Resort
LEGOLAND Florida Resort’sBrick or Treat
Brick or Treat, the Halloween party built for kids, returns to the LEGOLAND Florida Resort on Saturdays and Sundays in October as well as on Halloween.
No extra ticket is required to enjoy Halloween themed shows, loads of candy along a uniquely themed LEGO trick-or-treating trail, interactive character meet-and-great, a fireworks spectacular, and so much more.
Guests can sip in style with an event-themed collector’s cup, indulge in Granny’s Apples Fries with Pumpkin flavored ice cream, and nibble on a variety of Halloween-themed snacks.
Experience the tale of Captain Dreadbeard’s adventure to defeat the Imperial Navy during a unique fireworks spectacular, A Tale of Pirates’ Cove, each night of the event.
Insider Tip: In honor of LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel opening in Spring 2020, kids (ages 2-12) who come dressed as pirates for the first weekend of Brick or Treat on October 5th & 6th will receive a complimentary ticket to visit the theme park before the end of year.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort Honors U.S. Police Officers, Firefighters, EMS Personnel, and other local heroes with Free Admission with ID at Theme Park Ticket Windows
For the entire month of September, real-life heroes dedicated to keeping our communities safe will receive FREE, single-day theme park admission at LEGOLAND Florida Resort to experience the all-new THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD. In addition, to show appreciation for the families of first responders, eligible personnel can purchase general admission tickets for up to four guests at a 50 percent discount.
This promotion is open to active and retired law enforcement, fire-and-rescue and EMT/EMS personnel working in the United States.
Eligible positions to participate in this offer include:
Firefighters
Emergency medical services employees (EMT/EMS)
Municipal and county police and sheriff’s officers
Highway patrol officers
Corrections officers
State and federal law enforcement officers
Fish and wildlife field officers
U.S. Forest Service rangers
National Park Service officers
Homeland Security and TSA agents
Environmental protection officers
To receive complimentary and discounted tickets, eligible personnel must visit the LEGOLAND Florida Resort ticket windows on the day of their visit and present their employee ID or professional organization membership card. This offer is not available with any other offers, online, by telephone or through ticket resellers, and is valid through Monday, Sept. 30, 2019.
Guests may upgrade to include the LEGOLAND Water Park for just $25 per person.
For more information about theme park news and updates make sure to follow @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
At the D23 Expo held in Anaheim, California, over the weekend Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Bob Chapek led a presentation on the new additions coming to the Disney Parks around the world.
Walt Disney World
While there were several large announcements, Walt Disney World’s Epcot received the most attention as it continues to undergo the biggest transformation of any Disney park in history including the addition of several new attractions, restaurants, and experiences.
Walt Disney World
Starting with the news that Epcot will be organized into four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery.
Let’s start our look at the new additions coming to Epcot in World Showcase where new magic will join the celebration of World culture, cuisine, architecture, and traditions.
World Showcase
Walt Disney World
The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. We don’t have an opening date yet, but we do know that it will include a step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house before entering Number 17, the home of the Banks family, where an adventure will begin.
Walt Disney World
In 2020, following the limited-time run of the nighttime spectacular “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park.
It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, and it will feature familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe as well as massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers, and so much more.
Walt Disney World
In summer 2020, the France pavilion will be home to the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure where you’ll shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild adventure
Walt Disney World
Also debuting in 2020 is a new restaurant called La Crêperie de Paris featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse that can be enjoyed as a table or quick-service dining location.
Walt Disney World
And the last bit of news in the France pavilion, is that the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 that is directed by Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as time.
Walt Disney World
“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada pavilion with new scenes and a new story.
In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey across the country, filmed, and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital format.
Over in World Celebration new enhancements and additions will be focused on connecting individuals to the the world around them.
World Celebration
Walt Disney World
Iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time, but soon it will transform to reflect the power of storytelling and its ability to unite the human experience.
Walt Disney World
The re-imagined attraction will feature new narration, an entirely new musical score, and a magical “story light” that will lead guests on a journey through history focused on the moments and ideas that define “our” story.
Walt Disney World
At the exit to Spaceship Earth, a new post-show experience will lead guests to discover a breathtaking new view of World Showcase from Dreamers Point.
Walt Disney World
A new three-level Celebration Pavilion will be home to live events, serve as the center of Epcot’s signature festivals, and will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular.
Walt Disney World
Epcot’s entrance plaza will welcome guests with a reimagined fountain, new pathways, and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway to the park paying homage to the origins of Epcot.
Walt Disney World
The natural environments of the World Celebration neighborhood will have global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises, including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.
Walt Disney World
World Celebration will also feature a new statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney.
The World Nature neighborhood is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world that will include the existing The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions.
World Nature
Walt Disney World
Journey of Water, inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana” will lead guests down a lush exploration trail to meet and play with magical, living water.
Walt Disney World
The water will have a life of its own – just like Moana’s friend, the ocean – and you’ll learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.
The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” will debut in January 2020 and will showcase the beauty, diversity, and dynamic story of the planet.
And finally the In World Discovery neighborhood will focus on science, technology, and intergalactic adventures.
World Discovery
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at Epcot.
The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. Guests will learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the cosmos ensue.
Walt Disney World
The attraction will also feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus your attention on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
Walt Disney World
This winter guests with reservations can board a special elevator in the Mission: SPACE pavilion for a journey to a space station high above the ground that offers both a celestial panorama of daytime and nighttime views of Earth as well as an out-of-this-world dining experience at restaurant Space 220.
Walt Disney World
The PLAY! pavilion, in the former Wonders of Life pavilion, will be a digital metropolis filled with games, activities, and experiences that connect guests and Disney characters – both real and virtual – like never before.
As part of this new pavilion guests will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.
Walt Disney World
To help guests get ready for all of these new additions, on October 1, 2019, Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion will invite guests to discover interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy, and excitement driving the park’s future throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
With so much going on in the theme parks of Central Florida, make sure you follow @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more details.
DISCLOSURE: I was invited by the Walt Disney Company to attend the 2019 D23 Expo, however all opinions and over-use of exclamation points are 100% my own.
Inside the Disney Parks “Imagining Tomorrow, Today” Pavilion at the 2019 D23 Expo, visitors will be able to see what is coming next to the Disney Parks around the world.
While there are a lot of cool things to share, in this post we are going to focus on the additions coming to Walt Disney World with information from the Disney Parks Blog!
Walt Disney World
Let’s start with an all-new Star Wars vacation experience coming to Walt Disney World!
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship.
Once onboard, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey.
We were able to see a new model and incredible visuals of the starcruiser – called the Halcyon.
And then my heart stopped as we were shown a model of the multi-year transformation of Epcot complete with new experiences, “that will make the park more Disney, more family, more timeless, and more relevant” was unveiled.
The reinvention of Epcot will include several new additions, and the first one we learned about was Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.”
Walt Disney World
This first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.
And this October, guests will be able to visualize all of the exciting plans for Epcot at a new experience center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion, called Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience.
Walt Disney World
Inside this first-of-its-kind offering within a Disney park, guests will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow you to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement, and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
Walt Disney World
The Disney Parks pavilion also features other upcoming Walt Disney World attractions including TRON Lightcycle Run coming to Magic Kingdom Park as well as Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If you’re excited about today’s announcements, there is still more to come!
On Sunday, August 25, we’ll find out more details on these and other announcements during the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products presentation atD23 Expo 2019!
Celebrate National Roller Coaster Day by riding your favorite coasters at the most thrilling time of day – nighttime – during Thrill Fest Ride Night!
For the second year in a row, and just in time for National Coaster Day, SeaWorld Orlando will host Thrill Fest Ride Night on August 16th with extended park hours.
Included in admission, guests can take the coaster challenge and ride all of their favorite thrills at SeaWorld Orlando: Manta, Mako, Infinity Falls, Kraken and Journey to Atlantis will stay open until 11:00 pm for coaster enthusiasts to enjoy during Thrill Fest Ride Night.
Ride Night Coaster Tech Talk
Go Behind-the-Scenes and experience an exclusive “Coaster Tech Talk” with our Operations and Ride Maintenance teams to see one of the Mako trains inside the “coaster house” and learn from the experts about its unique features.
This free 20-30 minute tour will be limited to 50 guests per tour and available on a first-come, first-serve basis at 1 pm and 2:30 pm on August 16. Guests must sign up in person at the Mako Gift Shop in order to participate.
Extended Happy Hour
Happy Hour, featuring buy one, get one free drinks will be extended at Waterway Grill and Flamecraft Bar until 11 pm on August 16.
Ride Photo Special Offer
Valid throughout National Roller Coaster Day, on August 16 guests can purchase five ride photos for $20, redeemable at Adventure Photo in the park.
And don’t forget to take advantage of the 2019 SeaWorld Orlando Fun Card with Aquatica Orlando option exclusively for Florida residents!!!
With the SeaWorld Orlando Fun Card you can pay less than a day to play all year when you buy a 2019 SeaWorld Orlando Fun Card for $79.99, and now you can add Aquatica for only $20 more!
Here are some things to know about the 2019 SeaWorld Orlando Fun Card:
The Universal Orlando Resort has announced plans for an ambitious new theme park that will be called Universal’s Epic Universe that will bring “experiences beyond your wildest imagination to life” according to the park’s official press release.
“Our new park represents the single-largest investment Comcast NBCUniversal has made in its theme park business and in Florida overall,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation. “It reflects the tremendous excitement we have for the future of our theme park business and for our entire company’s future in Florida.”
Universal’s Epic Universe Announcement: Nine Things to Know
1. Universal’s Epic Universe will be the 4th park to open as part of the Universal Orlando Resort.
2. The park will be built on a 750-acre site just south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard, and this new addition will almost double Universal’s total available acreage in Central Florida.
3. Universal’s Epic Universe will be considered the South Campus of the Universal Orlando Resort with the current parks & CityWalk as North Campus and the Endless Summer Resort on International Drive the Mid-Campus.
Universal Orlando Resort
4. Universal’s Epic Universe will take story telling, environments, and attractions to a new level for the Universal Orlando Resort!
The park’s vision is to create an entirely new level of experience that forever changes theme park entertainment that will take guests on a journey where beloved stories expand into vibrant lands – and where that journey is as much a part of their adventure as the ultimate destination.
5. This is not just a theme park filled with attractions! The new theme park will feature an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants, and more.
6. Transportation will be important to this new park, and it is approximated a 12 minute trip from the Main Campus of the Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Orlando Resort
7. Universal Orlando currently employees 25,000 people and will hire an additional 14,000 team members as part of Epic Universe, including professional, technical, culinary and other specialized positions at a base salary of $15 per hour.
8. Orange County and the Universal Orlando Resort are partnering to create better roadways and a new ‘streamlined’ permitting process that will include a permitting office that will be located inside of the Orange County Convention Center
“The investment Universal is making in our community and the benefit all of us will see is substantial,” said Mayor Jerry Demings. “This will benefit nearly every segment of our economy – from tourism to high-tech.”
Mayor Demings also spotlighted Universal’s role in the Kirkman Road extension. This is a 50/50 public-private partnership in which Universal is investing $160 million to extend Kirkman into the area where the new park will be located.
“The Kirkman extension will improve transportation through a busy and growing portion of our county and open up the entire area for additional development – including an important expansion of our Convention Center,” he said.
Universal Orlando Resort
9. What Universal spokespeople did NOT share was a lot of details about the ‘lands’ that will be in the park and an opening date.
As details become available I will be sharing details about Universal’s Epic Universe, and to make sure you find out first make sure to follow @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
SEA LIFE Orlando guests will test their skills against five superpowered sea creatures
Underwater Superheroes is a limited-time, interactive experience at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium that let’s guests will learn about the superpowers of five sea creatures and put their own skills to the test through interactive games and challenges daily until September 2, 2019.
“We love to create immersive and exciting experiences for guests to learn about sea creatures and their unbelievable abilities,” says James Paulding, general manager. “The more people learn about sea life, the more they can appreciate these creatures and contribute to the many efforts to keep them safe and thriving for generations to come.”
The Underwater Superheroes experience features stations offering hands-on challenges that feature the superpower of each creature throughout SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.
Guests will test their speed against a shark, strength against a crab, intelligence against an octopus, and more.
Additionally the Aquarium’s dive team will plunge into the ocean habitats and answer questions while swimming alongside sharks, fish, and stingrays.
The experience will also include daily shows, featuring the octopus camouflaging itself against changing backgrounds, painting underwater masterpieces, and more.
During the event, guests who post on social media using #SEALIFESuperheroes while wearing their favorite superhero outfits inside of the Aquarium will be entered to win prizes.
The Underwater Superheroes experience is included in the price of admission.
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium offers a wave of underwater adventures with sea creatures from around the world. Come face-to-fin with thousands of fish, sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and many more.
Prepare for a world of glittering scales, humongous tentacles and razor-sharp teeth. Get ready to plunge deep into the oceans, explore a 360-degree ocean tunnel, meet a friendly rescue sea turtle and touch exotic starfish and anemones. You can even jump behind the scenes and see all it takes to keep an aquarium running.
With the opening of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios only a month away, it’s time to start preparing!!!
To start our journey into this new land, let’s start by talking about where we find ourselves in the Star Wars galaxy itself.
The Planet of Batuu
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set on the planet of Batuu which is a far-flung destination along the galaxy’s Outer Rim, on the frontier of Wild Space – the uncharted region beyond all known star systems.
Batuu was once a thriving stop for traders and travelers before advancements in lightspeed technology.
Walt Disney World
Now its lush forests and majestic mountain regions are known only to those who dare to venture this far into the Outer Rim to visit its Black Spire Outpost.
When guests arrive at the Black Spire Outpost, they will find themselves immersed in a world set somewhere after the events of The Last Jedi and shortly before this December’s Episode IX where they will encounter aliens, droids, and other inhabitants of Batuu as they search for rare and unique goods, discover unusual food and drink, or even join a crew seeking adventures.
Recently, the struggle between the First Order and the Resistance has made its way to this remote planet.
Scott Trowbridge, the Portfolio Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, has said that this elite garrison from the First Order is known as the ‘Red Fury’.
Richard Harbaugh/Disney Parks
These Stormtroopers are searching for someone or something, and you can find them near the life-sized version of the TIE Echelon, a new ship which has a cockpit similar to Kylo Ren’s batwinged shuttle but the curved foils of Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced x1.
Just be careful…The Red Fury doesn’t like strangers approaching their ship.
But if you venture beyond Black Spire’s gates, you’ll find where the resistance has set up a hidden headquarters.
Be on the lookout for a Blue Squadron X-wing, parked on a low platform alongside an A-wing fighter. This area is meant to be part of Batuu’s tranquil Surabat river valley, where early planetary beings set up their own community in cliffside and cave dwellings.
Richard Harbaugh/Disney Parks
Keep in mind, the Resistance doesn’t think of this home base as permanent. They are in a weakened state, and if The First Order strikes, they’ll have to take off in a hurry.
They’re here on Batuu out of necessity, but you’ll have to visit the park (and maybe see Episode IX) to understand exactly why this place is important to both sides.
Characters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Off the beaten path, this outpost has become a haven for the galaxy’s most colorful — and notorious — characters.
While exploring the Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu, guests may also encounter some familiar faces such as Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8 and Chewbacca, and could even find themselves face-to-face with Kylo Ren himself.
They won’t be meeting guests, signing autograph books, and doling out hugs ..these characters aren’t an attraction, they are on the streets as part of the land’s story,
Richard Harbaugh/Disney Parks
Rey and Chewbacca can be found near the ancient ruins outside Black Spire Outpost recruiting locals and visitors to join the Resistance.
The First Order Stormtroopers search The Black Spire Outpost in search of the Resistance near the First Order encampment at Docking Bay 9, and even Supreme Leader Kylo Ren joins the hunt during the day.
But there’s also a character you may not know roaming the streets
Resistance spy Vi Moradi may be new to Black Spire Outpost visitors, but her story has close ties with General Leia Organa and Captain Phasma and in Black Spire Outpost as she keeps tabs on the First Order and lets visitors know that the Resistance is growing.
And Disney’s Cast Members are also immersing themselves into the story of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Disney Parks
As local citizen’s of Batuu, Cast Members have their own personas and story of their roles at the Black Spire Outpost.
The Language of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
When you are walking the streets of the Black Spire Outpost, you’ll notice that the writing on the wall, literally in most cases, and on Cast Member name tags aren’t in English but in Aurebesh, the written language in the Star Wars galaxy.
You can find several decoders online, but the easiest way is to use the free Play Disney Parks App…which we will be talking about next time!
Richard Harbaugh/Disney Parks
There are also some sayings that you might hear around the Black Spire Outpost that you will want to familiarize yourself with including:
Bright Suns = Good Morning
Rising Moons = Good Evening
Travelers = Humans visiting Batuu
On Planet = In the Land
Datapad = Cell phone
Refresher = Bathroom
Hydrator = Water Fountain
Being “Off World” = You’re going outside of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Ignite the Spark = Greeting for the Resistance
Light the Fire = A Resistance callback to “Ignite the Spark”
Only the ancients know = I don’t know
Til the Spire = Farewell
Good journey = An Informal Goodbye
May the Spires Keep You = A Formal Goodbye
Reading more about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
While you don’t NEED to know anything about Star Wars to enjoy your visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge the creative minds at Lucasfilm, Marvel Comics, and Disney have been working on building the history of Batuu.
Over on Laughing Place, they have done a great job of breaking down the ‘essential’ reading for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
According to the site, “This deep and complete narrative will immerse fans in Star Wars lore, guide them around the planet, introduce essential characters, and reveal interesting secrets that can all be discovered from the comfort of home.”
Here’s what they had to say…Starting with the five-part comic series, of which two have been released.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge focuses on Dok-Ondar, the Ithorian junk dealer who has spent his life collecting countless artifacts from the entire history of the Star Wars galaxy. On a side note, visitors to Batuu will be able to visit his Den of Antiquities and purchase a variety of mysterious and interesting items from every era of Star Wars.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge #2 picks up with the First Order’s presence in Black Spire Outpost becoming a nuisance for the locals.
Pirate’s Price sees Hondo Ohnaka sitting down in Oga Garra’s Cantina in Black Spire Outpost to tell mercenary Bazine Netal three exciting tales about his relationship with the Millennium Falcon. Fans will even encounter Hondo and the legendary ship on Batuu at the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction.
And finally
Fans can dive into the lore of Batuu with the novel Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson, set to be released on August 27, 2019.
The novel’s description on Amazon reads:
Walk the ancient streets, meet the colorful characters, and uncover the secret history of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new expansion to the Disney Parks experience!
After devastating losses at the hands of the First Order, General Leia Organa has dispatched her agents across the galaxy in search of allies, sanctuary, and firepower—and her top spy, Vi Moradi, may have just found all three, on a secluded world at the galaxy’s edge.
A planet of lush forests, precarious mountains, and towering, petrified trees, Batuu is on the furthest possible frontier of the galactic map, the last settled world before the mysterious expanse of Wild Space. The rogues, smugglers, and adventurers who eke out a living on the largest settlement on the planet, Black Spire Outpost, are here to avoid prying eyes and unnecessary complications. Vi, a Resistance spy on the run from the First Order, is hardly a welcome guest. And when a shuttle full of stormtroopers lands in her wake, determined to root her out, she has no idea where to find help.
To survive, Vi will have to seek out the good-hearted heroes hiding in a world that redefines scum and villainy. With the help of a traitorous trooper and her acerbic droid, she begins to gather a colorful band of outcasts and misfits, and embarks on a mission to spark the fire of resistance on Batuu—before the First Order snuffs it out entirely.
Todd Wawrychuk/Disney Parks
We are really excited to share even more about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!
Make sure you follow @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for even more theme park news!
DISCLOSURE: I was invited by the Walt Disney World Resort to find out more about the holiday season, but all opinions are my own.
The 2019 Walt Disney World holiday season begins on November 8th with returning favorites as well as the debut of all-new seasonal offerings in all four parks and Disney Springs.
The holidays at Walt Disney World are filled with special live entertainment, characters in festive garb, seasonal décor, holiday treats, specialty eats, miles of garlands and decorations, and a shimmering castle to lift holiday spirits.
To help you plan your trip to Walt Disney World during the holidays, here is a look at holiday happenings throughout the four parks and Disney Springs!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Joins in the Holiday Fun for the First Time
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will introduce the biggest holiday season in its two-decade history, with festive new entertainment and holiday décor in every land. Daytime and nighttime, guests will experience the majesty of nature and holiday magic.
Rendering, Walt Disney World Resort
Here is some of what’s in store:
In the heart of the park, on Discovery Island, guests will find themselves immersed in a magical scene. By day, stylized, life-sized animal puppets mingle with villagers who make the island their home. As day becomes night, rooftop luminaries in animal shapes and bird lanterns throughout Discovery Island will bring a warm glow to the village.
As the sun sets, the Tree of Life will awaken with a series of wintry tales emerging from within, backed by a familiar and heartwarming holiday musical score. Between awakening moments, the Tree of Life will shimmer and sparkle throughout the night, alive with the magic of nature and the spirit of the holidays.
Dinoland, U.S.A. will rock out with the DJ-led “Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n Dale” and plenty of interactive fun and games. Throughout the land, characters gathered for “Donald’s Dino-Bash!” will get in the holiday spirit with colorful costumes.
Diwali, the Holiday Festival of Lights in India, has inspired the residents of Anandapur in Glowing flowers, lanterns and more will illuminate the main square leading to the waterfront stage, home to authentic and colorful cultural performances.
Walt Disney World Resort
The village of Harambe in Africa will welcome guests with a unique holiday presentation, fusing Western traditions with the colors and texture of authentic African celebrations; colorful costuming and new music flavors each performance.
Tusker House diners get their merry on as Safari Donald Duck and his pals spread holiday cheer.
Guests will find out-of-this-world Christmastime fun at Pandora – The World of Avatar. Ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora roll out seasonal fun with a display at Pongu Pongu of kitschy holiday décor, pairing vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.
A Christmas tree will tower over the park entrance. Decorated with traditional ornaments and hidden animals, the tree is a prelude to the holiday magic that awaits inside the park.
Magic Kingdom Park to Unveil New Holiday Fireworks Show & Attraction Overlays
The skies above Magic Kingdom Park will sparkle to life this holiday season as visions of fireworks dance in the air during an all-new nighttime show – Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. Hosted by Minnie Mouse, the holiday extravaganza invites guests to come together in a celebration of heartfelt moments and the magic of Christmas.
Walt Disney World Resort
The show will be presented during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which takes place select dates Nov. 8-Dec. 22, and nightly Dec. 23-29.
Also, for the first time ever during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, select Magic Kingdom attractions are receiving special enhancements just for the holidays!
Walt Disney World Resort
When you get behind the wheel on the Tomorrowland Speedway, you’ll find yourself cruising a festive freeway filled with thousands of lights and stylized décor.
The crew at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is putting some “Ha Ha Ha” in their “Ho Ho Ho,” with a new show for everyone visiting the Monster World during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Space Mountain launches you on a trippy jaunt through the cosmos, filled with dazzling lighting and high-energy holiday tunes.
Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland becomes a wild and wacky Christmas party, as you spin your teacups to one of four new holiday combos of lights and music.
This holiday season will also see Magic Kingdom transformed into an enchanting wonderland with dazzling decorations, holiday treats, a shimmering ice castle and more. Returning holiday favorites include:
With glittery Cinderella Castle as its centerpiece, Magic Kingdom shines its brightest during the holidays. Guests will be swept into a magical scene of seasonal music, characters in their festive finery and fireworks bursting above. During A Frozen Holiday Wish stage show, Queen Elsa magically transforms Cinderella Castle with glistening ice.
Holiday Fireworks Dessert Parties are a sweet way to enjoy the new holiday fireworks. Offered nightly, each festive party includes seasonal treats and dazzling views of the new fireworks spectacular. Dessert parties are not included with theme park admission. For schedules, pricing information and reservations, guests can visit DisneyWorld.com or call (407) WDW-DINE.
Ryan Wendler, photographer
Each of the 23 nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will feature performances of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show. Guests will also experience select rides and attractions (including the “Jingle Cruise”), savor complimentary treats, discover event-exclusive merchandise and delight to a magical “snowfall” on Main Street, U.S.A.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates: November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24; December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22. For more information and ticketing, guests can call (407) 939-1872 or visit Disneyworld.com.
Beloved Epcot Candlelight Processional Begins November 29 as Highlight of Holiday Festival
Joyous Yuletide traditions from across the globe are at the heart of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.
Walt Disney Word Resort
From November 29 through December 30, 2019, merry-makers will be immersed in a vast world of holiday decorations and entertainment, themed merchandise, festive cuisine and costumed storytellers in many of the 11 World Showcase nations including:
Epcot’s grandest holiday tradition – the Candlelight Processional – features the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator backed by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. Performances will run three times nightly during the festival. Narrators already announced for this year include Whoopi Goldberg, Pat Sajak, Steven Curtis Chapman and Edward James Olmos. More narrators will be announced in the coming months. Dining packages include guaranteed seating for the holiday event and can be booked starting July 3 by calling (407) WDW-DINE.
Special Holiday Kitchens sprinkled throughout World Showcase will serve up tasty treats inspired by treasured holiday recipes from across the globe.
World Showcase pavilions will come alive with the sights and sounds of special entertainment celebrating each country’s holiday heritage.
Chip & Dale are gathering ornaments for their Christmas tree and guests can join in the fun! To be part of Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree Scavenger Hunt, guests will purchase a map and stickers from select merchandise outlets and scout World Showcase locations looking for the famous chipmunks and their ornaments. Completed maps are returned for a special festive surprise, courtesy of the chipmunk duo.
Epcot guests can quite literally do their holiday shopping around the world. The World Showcase pavilions are filled with favorite fragrances, jewelry, toys, stocking stuffers and more.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet guests at The American Adventure pavilion.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Glitters with Special Holiday Entertainment
Holiday adventures begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as new attractions, and lands turn this theme park into one big holiday gift.
Walt Disney World
Add seasonal shows, enchanting “snowfalls,” décor and more, and it’s easy to see how holidays here become extraordinary:
Park guests will be mesmerized by the Sunset Seasons Greetings show projected onto the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Boasting amazing laser effects and “snow,” the experience also includes stories, songs and cheer courtesy of favorite Disney friends.
The nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” will treat holiday-goers to iconic music, fireworks, special effects and state-of-the-art projections to create a one-of-a-kind holiday experience at the iconic Chinese Theatre. To add a sweet touch, guests will be able to make reservations for the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Dessert Party. This event is not included with theme park admission, and pricing and reservation information will be available later this year.
Holiday touches and festive décor throughout the park will include seasonal fun inside Toy Story Land, as well as joyous greetings from Santa or Santa Goofy.
As a curtain-closer, Olaf delivers a special holiday finale in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along.
Disney Springs Delivers Season’s Greetings
Perfect for this special time of year, the Disney Springs retail, dining and entertainment district is where guests can make a holiday list and check it twice as they breeze among dozens of trendy brand-name stores and a large and varied collection of Disney merchandise. They can also indulge the holiday hungries at great dining spots that will also serve up seasonal cheer.
Walt Disney Word Resort
Live entertainment will include the spectacle of toy soldier stilt walkers, carolers and Living Statues in holiday attire. Holiday decorations set the colorful stage for Disney Springs festivities, which run November 8 through January 5, 2020:
Guests strolling the Christmas Tree Trail will be treated to custom-decorated holiday trees, each dedicated to a popular Disney theme featuring favorite Disney characters.
Guests will be invited to join in Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt and discover where the mischievous Experiment 626 is hiding.
Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s (MGM) Killer Klowns from Outer Space lands at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights in all-new chilling maze at the Universal Orlando Resort bringing together the most twisted scenes and ghastly gags from the popular horror sci-fi film at the nation’s premier Halloween events.
Based on the cult 1980s film favorite, the Killer Klowns from Outer Space mazes will transport guests to the sleepy small town of Crescent Cove, taken over by a pack of murderous clown-like creatures.
Guests will be lured by the sweet smell of cotton candy and ice-cream and find themselves in an otherworldly circus tent where they’ll come face-to-face with the crazed klowns and their sinister, side-splitting antics.
As they make their way through the Big Top Space Ship, guests will witness diabolical klowns making cotton candy cocoons from unsuspecting victims and will realize the joke’s on them as they are next to become the gooey snack.
From one shrieking klown to the next, the mazes will lead guests through the doomed community of Crescent Cove to an eerie amusement park closed for the season. Trapped in a terrifying funhouse full of killer klowns, guests will be left screaming as there’s no stopping this twisted three-ring circus.
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights to become victims inside their own horror film.
Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season. And, the streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.
Halloween Horror Nights begins Friday, September 6 in Orlando, and additional details about the events will be revealed soon.
For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” and to purchase tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
DISCLOSURE: I was an invited guest of the Walt Disney World Company to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to share The Lion King goodness in the park, but all opinions are my own.
The Lion King has always played a huge role in the fabric of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and to celebrate the animated classic’s 25th anniversary Walt Disney World is celebrating in a big way with new and enhanced experiences.
With so many great new experiences, I wanted to share how you can have a Disney Day themed to The Lion King at the park!
Since Disney’s The Lion King was first released in theaters 25 years ago, we have lost half of Africa’s lions. Only 20,000 remain. The time to act is now.
For each rider on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom during opening week of The Lion King film (July 19 – 25, 2019), Disney Conservation Fund will donate $2 (up to $350,000) to the Wildlife Conservation Network in support of the Lion Recovery Fund’s efforts to help double the number of lions across Africa by 2050.
Disney
#ProtectThePride Facts:
Lions are threatened from a combination of factors, including: poaching, loss of prey and destruction of habitats, and Disney has launched The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund in an effort to double the lion population by 2050.
Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed up to $75 million ($13M to projects across Africa) to save wildlife and protect the planet.
Disney has already donated more than $1.5 million to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s (WCN) Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and its partners and will make additional grants as well as invite fans to help double the donation for a total contribution of up to $3 million. Fans may participate by taking part in celebratory experiences and purchasing special-edition products, as part of The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign.
The Animation Experience at the Conservation Center
Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Affection Section and the Wildlife Express Train are once again open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and now there is a brand-new additional experience for everyone to enjoy!
In honor of the celebration of Disney’s “The Lion King,” The Animation Experience at Conservation Station offers you the opportunity to learn how live animals have inspired some of the most iconic characters from this beloved “tail” while learning more about some of the animals who call Disney’s Animal Kingdom park home.
During the experience you will create a personalized piece of Disney art through an instructor-led animation class.
You could draw Simba, Zazu, Pumbaa, Timon, or another friend. Each session will be different so be sure to visit often to complete the collection.
Disney FastPass+ Service will be offered for the experience, and you can make those selections using the My Disney Experience app.
The Lion King Merchandise
Would it be a trip to Walt Disney World if you didn’t at least look at the souvenirs, and for this celebration you’ll find some extROARdinary new merchandise at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
You can find a large selection of items inspired by The Lion King at various locations around the park, but you’ll find the largest selections at Mombasa Marketplace, Island Mercantile, and Discovery Trading Company.
The Lion King Photo Opportunities
To help you celebrate, Disney PhotoPass photographers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are offering photo opportunities inspired by inhabitants of the Pride Lands – including four brand new Magic Shots!
You can also snap a photos in a colorful backdrop at the entrance of the park, have fun themed props from “The Lion King” near the Tree of Life, during a tender moment between Simba & Nala, or strike a pose at Lion King Corner near Pizzafari.
I think these photo opportunities are so much fun, and a great way to remember your Disney Day!
The Lion King Inspired Treats around the Park
And what better way to celebrate The Lion King than with a ‘whole pride of eats and treats’! The Disney Parks Blog has broken down all of the tasty goodies you’ll find at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this summer.
From latte art and ice cream sandwiches to special cones and more, there are enough treats here to have a feast fit for a (lion) king!
Hakuna Matata Dance Party on Discovery Island
Who is ready to let loose? The Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party is a family-friendly event featuring music, dance, games and some of your favorite Disney friends—including Timon, Rafiki, and surprise friends!
Get into the groove as a live world beat-style band starts the party by adding a cool twist to popular Disney hits.
Perfect for Guests of all ages, the festivities are held daily at the Discovery Island Stage—don your dance shoes for tons of problem-free fun!
The Lion King Scavenger Hunt
Some of your favorite Lion King characters are hidden around Harambe. Each time you spot one, add the corresponding sticker to your map. Whether you choose to hunt for all the carvings or not, return your map to Mombasa Marketplace in Harambe or The Outpost Shop in the Oasis by September 28, 2019 for a savanna surprise.
The adventure costs only $6.99, and are available while supplies last. Also there is one surprise per map, so if you have a few seekers you may consider purchasing a few maps.
The Festival of The Lion King
Join the inhabitants of the Pride Lands for a grand gala in honor of Simba, the lion cub who would be king.
As the lights dim, hear the sounds of the African savanna. A kinetic kaleidoscope of color floods the stage as colossal puppets, extravagantly costumed dancers, amazing acrobats, a daring fire dancer and incredible stilt walkers dazzle the senses.
During spectacular theatrics, you’ll relive all the classic songs from The Lion King, including “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” The spectacular finale includes a soaring rendition of “Circle of Life.”
It’s a moving and immersive theatrical experience celebrating music that has touched generations of Disney fans—and a festival you’ll want to be part of again and again!
Rivers of Light: We Are One
Eastern festival traditions merge with innovative technology to offer a dazzling nighttime pageant of lantern floats, grand theatrical imagery and a soaring musical score!
Enter a breathtaking world that remains hidden by day, but comes alive at night to tell the story of how mankind has been inspired by animals and all of the natural world.
Photo: Walt Disney World
With the enhanced Rivers of Light: We Are One, you’ll experience a new story about the milestones we all share in our journey through the great circle of life. It’s a tale told in powerful fashion—featuring the addition of even more dramatic Disneynature live-action footage and a tapestry of classic moments from animal-inspired Disney animated films, including The Lion King.
You’ll be captivated by a re-imagined soundtrack as the original musical score now is woven together with familiar Disney themes, carrying us through moments of discovery, fun, friendship, fear and love.
Tree of Life Nighttime Awakenings
Flickering fireflies magically appear and stir to life the animal spirits in the tree’s towering trunk—bringing to light a dazzling visual display swarming with color and animated imagery.
Photo: Walt Disney World
Gaze upon a young doe embarking upon a thrilling journey. Behold love blossoming between a pair of hummingbirds. Spy a sly fox spreading gifts of love among the denizens of a wintry forest.
A feast for the eyes, each revelation celebrates the eternal balance and harmony that exists in all living things, big or small, and is sure to inspire and delight your whole family tree.
Reawakening Your Love of The Lion King
The Tree of Life sleeps tonight—or does it? Through September 30, experience the wonder as an original musical score and mystical images—featuring animals and themes inspired by The Lion King—take you on a sublime journey. Be there to see this slumbering iconic tree become even more stunning in a new awakening.
